Matt Lowton in The Times

[Dave]

Think back to how abjectly shite the Geordies were when they lost 1-0 to us and went down. Not an ounce of fight in them, it was an abject surrender like we have seen ourselves the last few weeks. They have a berk of an owner, they were a shambles, yet walked the league. Being better than 23 shit sides shouldn't be beyond even the dullest of minds running our club.

They had Andy Carroll and Kevin Nolan who absolutely steam rollered the Championship.  We don't have anybody in that class.

Yet our own big lump comfortably outscored Carroll in the Championship.

The very fact that Andy Carroll and Kevin Nolan can "steamroller" anything does nothing but back up Ads' point.

[Chris Jameson]

Our big advantage is the quality players we do have in relation to the Championship

Our what?

Haha!  I know it seems daft, but referring back to when we played the Noses and all the problems Ayew and Grealish caused them, Gestede's goal and Amavi's cross.

A mate messaged me this week saying how much he's enjoying this season. Oddly enough I heard no more when I said this is the worst Villa side I've seen in my 42 years of going to games and it is no comfort to know that even then we had no problem in beating his team in their cup final. Bet you can't guess who he supports!

[cdbearsfan]

Unless we actually improve, or the teams that finish 18th-19th get a lot worse, there will be at least two of the twenty-three teams who are better than us.

I suspect we'll struggle to get close to promotion. Even if we do manage to hold onto our most talented staff, Doris the Tea Lady and Niger the Programme Seller, the teams appears to have nothing in the way of fight.

Mid-table in the Championship is what I expect unless we invest or uncover some budding Messis from the kids.

[Ads]

Think back to how abjectly shite the Geordies were when they lost 1-0 to us and went down. Not an ounce of fight in them, it was an abject surrender like we have seen ourselves the last few weeks. They have a berk of an owner, they were a shambles, yet walked the league. Being better than 23 shit sides shouldn't be beyond even the dullest of minds running our club.

They had Andy Carroll and Kevin Nolan who absolutely steam rollered the Championship.  We don't have anybody in that class.

Carroll scored 17 goals. A poor man's Rudy.

Edit: I see Dave has beat me to it.

[aj2k77]

Kevin Nolan of 5 years ago would be head and shoulders our best midfielder and club captain. Andy Carroll Is a much better player than Gestede as well.

[PeterWithesShin]

There's only really been three big clubs relegated in the last 20 years. We are the third.

More than 2 big clubs have been relegated in the last 20 years. Leeds, Newcastle, Sunderland, Man City, Sheff Wed. We'll be the 6th.

[Ads]

I forgot Sunderland. I'm not having the other two though.

[Toronto Villa]

Think back to how abjectly shite the Geordies were when they lost 1-0 to us and went down. Not an ounce of fight in them, it was an abject surrender like we have seen ourselves the last few weeks. They have a berk of an owner, they were a shambles, yet walked the league. Being better than 23 shit sides shouldn't be beyond even the dullest of minds running our club.

They had Andy Carroll and Kevin Nolan who absolutely steam rollered the Championship.  We don't have anybody in that class.

Yet our own big lump comfortably outscored Carroll in the Championship.

The very fact that Andy Carroll and Kevin Nolan can "steamroller" anything does nothing but back up Ads' point.

Countering the Andy Carroll argument was all too easy. The fact that Rudy Gestede out jumped and scored against most defences he faced while playing for those powerhouses Balckburn suggests that defences in that league aren't exactly great. Playing against the back four from Bristol City, Ipswich or Charlton will be a little easier I'd imagine than Southampton, Spurs or Arsenal. Our players could do with playing against lesser opponents for a little while just to remember what it is like to win again and simply enjoy some success.

[PeterWithesShin]

I forgot Sunderland. I'm not having the other two though.

Why? They've both won more than Leeds and spent more time in the top flight than Leeds. Have far superior histories to Leeds. So not sure what qualification makes Leeds a big club but not Sheff Weds or Man City.

[Dave]

He's unlikely to be playing against the Charlton defence - they are the us of the Championship so won't be there anymore.

[Ads]

I forgot Sunderland. I'm not having the other two though.

Why? They've both won more than Leeds and spent more time in the top flight than Leeds. Have far superior histories to Leeds. So not sure what qualification makes Leeds a big club but not Sheff Weds or Man City.

Leeds have history of being a big club more recently than the remilitarisatin of the Rhineland. Blackburn have won more than all of them, but they're still small-time.

[Chris Jameson]

By that logic then Villa aren't a big club either.

[PeterWithesShin]

So how do 1 trophy in 80 years Sunderland qualify when being a big club is based on their history but the other 2 don't?

[Ads]

We've always been a big club. Wednesday have won one trophy since people thought Hitler wasn't such a bad chap.

We have won the title, the FA Cup, five league cups, the European and Super Cups; more than all but maybe 10 clubs out the 92, while spending 70 years in the top flight, playing in Europe without invertation, while having a ground we can actually fill when the mood takes us.

If Wednesday are big then so are the Albion. Nae fucking chance.

[PeterWithesShin]

We've always been a big club. Wednesday have won one trophy since people thought Hitler wasn't such a bad chap.

So have Sunderland.